How to remove Relola Search from Windows OS

Browser hijacked by Relola Search: Is there any solution?

According to expert point of view, Relola Search is described as a browser hijacker that has been designed by group of cyber criminals in order to promote questionable search engine. This dubious threat has been created and distributed by hackers with an aim to make illegal online profit. Usually, these browser hijackers have been created to promote search engine by changing their default settings in browsers. However, most people do not download and install this type of apps intentionally thus for this reason they are called potentially unwanted applications. The main intention behind the creation of such apps is to cause redirects and collect various information related to users.

Moreover, Relola Search has the capability to compromise all targeted web browsers as well as change settings in browsers like an address of default search engine, homepage and new tab in order to promote search.relola.com. Whenever, you open browser or type any search query into URL bar it provides results generated by Yahoo or redirect you to search.yahoo.com. So, you are advised not to trust and use these types of browser hijackers. Thus, it becomes impossible for users to reset those changes until they remove installed browser hijackers.

Further, these browser hijackers also work as information tracking tool which is used to record browsing data such as geolocation, IP addresses, visited websites, entered search queries, pages viewed and so on. Later, developers share all collected details with hackers who misuse it to generate income. Thus, presence of data tracking apps cause severe privacy issues, browsing safety and lead to identity theft. Thus, to fix all such troubles we strongly recommend you to uninstall installed browser hijackers and other unwanted apps as quickly as possible.

Short summary

Name: Relola Search

Type: Browser hijacker, Redirect

Promoted URL: search.relola.com

Infected browser settings: default search engine, new tab URL, homepage

Symptoms: manipulate internet browser settings, redirect you to harmful websites and encourage you to search the internet by using their search engines.

Damage: Slow down computer performance, other PUPs and malware infiltration and internet browser tracking.

Distribution: bundles of free software programs, suspicious websites, harmful links, misleading ads and popup and many more.

Detection tool: Manual as well as automatic guidelines has been provided below under this article.

How your PC gets infected from Relola Search?

Like other redirect virus and harmful threats, Relola Search invades into your computer by using several deceptive techniques. Some of them are bundles of free software packages, spam emails, suspicious websites, harmful links, freeware or shareware and many more. Usually, it happens when users click on deceptive ads or download or install software without paying attention. Unwanted downloads or installations occur when those ads run harmful scripts that are created or designed to install some unwanted app together with regular software. What’s developers do is that they hide information about such apps behind custom or advance settings of the installation setups. However, most of the people leave all those unchanged or unchecked and often cause inadvertent installation of unwanted programs.

How to avoid intruding unwanted apps?

To prevent intrusion of unwanted programs like Relola Search you must follow below mentioned steps:

• To download files and programs, always use official websites and direct links.
• Avoid using third party installer, unofficial pages and other similar sources because it likely contains rogue apps.
• Always pay close attention while downloading or installing any apps.
• Select custom, advanced, manual and other similar settings of installation setups.
• Avoid clicking on ads that are displayed on questionable websites because they redirect you to untrustworthy web-pages.
• Keeps all installed software updated by using tools provided by official software developers.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Relola Search:

Remove the related items of Relola Search using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Relola Search issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Relola Search) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Relola Search removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Relola Search still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Relola Search plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Relola Search removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Relola Search (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.